Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-22
WASHINGTON.
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL

General John G. Black, Commissioner Of
Pensions, has returned from an absence Of i've
weeks, during which he has been engaged, as
a member OF the Board Of Managers Of ths
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Sol
diers, in locating branch home on the Pacific
coast The site selected was Santa Monico,
Cal, IA miles from Los Angles, on tn, shore
of the Pacific. The people offered as an In
ducement $50 acres OF land worth $3.50 per
acre and 100000 in cash. General Black
says the climate is perfect. The site over
looks the ocean, Is sheltered by mountains,
and Is easily accessible by railroads. The
commissioner says: California cannot be
overpraised- 1t is land OF oil, wine, fruits
and flowers, the riches OF 0phir, and the
most energetic people in energetic America.
During the week preceding our arrival at
Los Angeles the daily gain to the population
of that town was more than 1000 people
This astonishing condition of affairs prevails
in modified form through all Southern
California.
Some of the new Representatives, pqrticu>
larly those from the agricultural districts,
are bowling out loud about the snap game the
departing members of the 49th played on them.
Toward the end Of the session a resolution
was passed, providing that all the documents
printed before December should go to the
old Congress. Among the tons of literature
thus deftly captured were hundreds of agr.-
a.,1kr
Der, eager to prove his feeling for some of
the tillers of the soil, who gathered under his
banner, goes hunting for crop statistics, he
finds himself without them.
One of the clerks of the house, the other
day, in talking about the habits of members
in drawing their salaries, said that about
one-half of them drew what was due them in
advance every month. About one-third of
the entire number made checks against the
sergeant-at-arms, when ever they wanted
money, as they would against bank, and
that officials usually cashed them, no matter
whether any money was dus the congressmer
or not, but he usually sees that they do not
overdraw their annual salaries Several
members let their salary accumulate
until the end of the session, and
then draw it in a lump. John
A. Ketcham, William L. Scott,
Adams, of Chicago, and Wilkins, of Ohio
invariably do this Mr.. Randall, who has
nothing but his salary to live on, usually
draws down to his margin In the Senate the
practice is similar. Mr.. Cullom, who is s
moor man, draws his salary at the end Of
each month. Mr.. Edmuads generally leaves
his until the end of the quarter and take:
three months wagesat time Mr.. Sherman
is one of the monthly payment Senators
but Mr.. Payne leaves his on deposit
until he happens to need money
and then sends a page to the clerk
office to have check made out for al
that is due him Mr.. Hale has similal
habit. William Maxwell Evarts gives checks
against his salary to the real estate agen
from whom he rents his house, AMI it takes il
all. Don Cameron is very careless about his
salary, and never seems to know how much il
due him He lets the money accumulate fol
several months, and then when he want
funds, makes check regardless of the amour
due him Mr.. Stanford generally leaves hi
until the end of the session, and then draw
it all before he leaves Washington. When b
arrives here for the winter he always deposit
$4,000 to the credit of his wife at the banl
of Riggs & Co., and that carries the famil,,
through the season.